Gear mounting



Sept. 26, 1939.

W. R. GRISWQLD GEAR MOUNTING 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1935 gmc/wk@ METER ESWLD Ilw" Patented Sept. 1.26, 1939 UNITED STATES GEAR MOUNTING Walter R. Griswold, Detroit, Mich., assignor to- Packard Motor Car CompanyyDetroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application March 20, 1935, Serial No. 11,932

13 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to the transmission mechanism thereof. y 1 v v It is more especially concerned with the mounting of one of the gear` elements for a transmission of the general type disclosed in Patent 1,960,357, n

dated May 29, 1934.

In the transmission of this invention the gears are preferably yof the helical type designed for quiet operation and two of the speeds are shown as synchronized for quiet shifting from one to another. Quietness in the best of gears cannot' be obtained without an accurate mounting of the gears `and sufficient strength in the shafts to insure against undue springing. If ball bearings are yused they must be large enough to withstand the full load to which they are likely to be subjected and it is well known that a full row of balls in a bearing will take a heavier load than 20 a partial row with cages spacing the balls or that smaller balls may be used if a full row can be l employed. f l

It'has been found that ball bearings may be preloaded'somewhat and, of course, a full row of balls will take a pre-load better than a partial row of balls with spacers. It has also been found that pre-:loaded ball bearings will retain a gear element more closely in concentric relation with the shaft on which it is mounted. In previous transmissions where ball or roller bearings have been used to support a ,gear between splined portions of one of the transmission shafts, it has been found necessary to use a sleeve over one of the splined portions of the shaft in order to reach to one end of the shaft to clamp the bearings in position, and of course this sleeve must also be splined, thus adding to the complication and expense and necessarily decreasing the size oi the.

shaft at that splined portion or increasing the vsize oi the element sliding on the splined sleeve,

neither of which is at all desirable.

t One of the objects oi the present invention is to provide retaining means for a gear element on a shaft having spaced spline portions with a gear element between them, which retaining means will connect with the shaft adjacent this mounti `ing instead of extending to one end of the shaft l as through a splined sleeve.

`Another object of the invention is to provide a method of mounting a gear on a -shaft so that the clamping means for the mounting will conneet directly with the shaft adjacent the mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for rotatably mounting a gear on a shaft so that the mounting, that is, the balls lin the races, may be pre-loaded by connection with the shaft adjacent the mounting itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for rotatably mounting al gear on a shaft. so that the mounting will be pre-loaded and the y clamping device will be embedded in the shaft itself adjacent the mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support and a gear element with a "rotary mounting such that the mounting may be preloaded and the pre-loading means connected to the support.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specication, and in which:

' Fig. l is partly a side view and partly a longitudinal sectional view through a motor .vehicle transmission embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of one of the gears with the clamp-l ing ring in position before it is Vpressed into the retaining groove;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig..2;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, illustrating another form of the gear mounting -xembodying the invention; t

` Fig. 5 is a"view similar'to Fig. 2 showing another form of the connection between the clamping ring and the shaft `with the ring in position before being pressed into the threaded groove;

Fig. 61s a view similar to Fig. 5 with the clamping ring in its nnished and adjusted position, and

Fig. l is a section on the line 'l--l of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to the construction shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, l0 represents a transmission gear casing of the usual type, li is the driving shaft of the transmission mounted in the usual type oi ball bearing l2 in the iront end of the casing, and i3 is the driven shaft aligned with the driving shaft and having its forward end mounted in a roller bearing ,i4 in the adjacent end of the driving shaft. The rear end of the driven shaft i3 is mounted in the usual ball bearg ing i5. There is a countershaft I6 upon which is rotatablymounted a nest of gears comprising Gear i1 constantly 1 ing gear 23 may also mesh with a reverse gear 24 mounted for constant mesh with gear 23. 'Ihe gear 23 is shown in neutral position between the gears I3 and 24.

'I'he driving shaft II is also formed with a clutch portion 25 having clutch teeth 26 and a conical clutch portion 21, and spaced therefrom and surrounding the driven shaft I3 is a gear element 23 upon which the gear 22 is formed and'which also is provided with a clutch element 23 having clutch teeth 33 and a conical clutch portion 3I. Mounted between the clutch elements 25 and 29 is a synchronizing mechanism which synchronizes the speed of the shaft II or the speed of the gear element 22 with the speed of the driven shaft I 3 before the respective clutch element is connected to the driven shaft. This mechanism comprises a sliding clutch ring 32 keyed to the driven shaft I3 and a positive clutch sleeve 33 sliding and keyed thereon. The clutch ring 32 has cone clutch surfaces 34 and 35 which cooperate with the clutch portions 21 and 3| respectively, and the internal teeth 33 of the sleeve 33 co-operate with the clutch teeth 26 and 33.

A shifter yoke 31 moves the sleeve 33 and a spring pressed ball 33 retards the movement thereof as the clutch cones engage to synchronize the speeds. There is also a shifter yoke 33 for shifting the sliding gear 23.

The operating or driven shaft4 I3 is formed with a portion 43 having straight splines upon which the clutch ring 32 may slide in its synchronizing movements. The shaft I3 is also formed with a portion 4I having helical splines upon which the gear 23 slides, these splines corresponding to the angle of the teeth of the gears I3, 23 and 24 so that meshing may be facilitated. At the rear end of the splined portion 4I the shaft I3 is formed with a shoulder 42 against which the inner race of the bearing I6 abuts. A speedometer drive gear 43 is keyed to the shaft I3 beyond the gear I5, and a universal joint 44 is keyed to the shaft. A nut 45 is threaded on the end of the shaft I3 and clamps the parts against the shoulder 42, thus retaining the parts on the shaft and retaining the shaft in endwise position in the casing.

The splined portions 43 and 4I of the shaft I3 are spaced relative to each other and between them is a bearing portion 46 for supporting the gear element 23. The portions 43 and 46 of the shaft are shown as of the same diameter but they are smaller than the portion 4I thus forming a shoulder 41 between the portions 4I and 46. Spaced from the shoulder 41 and between the portions 43 and 46, the shaft I3 is formed with an annular groove 43. Thus the bearing portion 46 may be defined as that part of the shaft between the shoulder 41 and the annular groove 43. In cutting the splines of the portions 43 and 4I the cutter will usually run over the groove 43 and shoulder 41 as shown in the drawings but this is merely a tapering olf of the splines and serves no purpose on the bearing portion of the shaft.

The gear element 23 is formed interiorly with two separated ball races 43 and 63, these races being formed directly in the element itself so that the gear may be made small relative to the shaft diameter. Opposed ball races are formed in race elements 6I and 62 and these elements may be extended so that they meet or they may be provided as shown. with a spacer 53, With the races formed as shown, a full row of balls 64 may be provided between the races 43 and 6I place.

and a full row of balls 56 may be provided between the races 6u and 52. This full row of balls may be seen particularly in Fig. 3.y The races in the gear element 23, the balls, the races in the elements 5I and 52, and the spacer 63 are so formed and proportioned that when the race 5I is pressed firmly towards the shoulder 41 the bearings will be pre-loaded to just the right extent to firmly retain the gear element 28 in its position on the shaft I3 and yet permit it to rotate readily under load. This is obtained by providing a slight clearance when the parts are brought loosely together, this clearance being approximately two thousandths of an inch. 'I'hen when the inner races and the spacer 53 are clamped together this two thousandths will be taken up and the bearing properly pre-loaded.

To retain the parts of the mounting in position on the shaft a connection is made with the shaft on the mounting itself. This is shown as in the form of a ring 56, the inside diameter of which, when it is placed on the shaft as shown in Fig. 2, is such that it must be pressed in In other words, the ring 56 is a pressed fit on the left hand end of the bearing portion of the shaft I3 and as it is pressed in place to the position shown in Fig. 2, the clearance in the bearing parts is taken up and the race elements 5I and 52 and the spacer 53 are clamped against the shoulder 41, thus pre-loading the bearing as above described. In this position the ring 56 has a portion 51 directly over the annular groove 43 in the shaft I3. Then following this pressing operation the ring portion 61 is subjected to a rolling or peening operation which forces the portion 51 into the groove 43 as shown in Fig. 1 so that all of the parts of the mounting are retained on the shaft. This rolling or peening operation is made possible by reason of the pressed fit of .the ring 56 on the shaft.

With this method of securing the mounting in place the shaft portions 43 and 46 may be made of the same size and neither has to be made larger than is necessary for the load imposed upon it. Also, the construction retains the mounting on the shaft without the necessity of a sleeve extending to the end of the shaft. Also, this construction retains the bearings in preloaded condition throughout the life of the bearings and thus the gears are maintained in line and thereby produce quiet operation. i

Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 4, the mounting is applied interiorly of a support.l Thus the support 63 has a shoulder y6I and an annular groove 62 spaced therefrom. A gear or similar element 63 is mounted for rotation relative to the support on two full rows of ball bearings 64, 65. Spac'ed races 66 and 61 are formed directly in the element 63 and races 63 and 33are mounted in the support 63 with a spacer 13 between them. The race 69 rests against the shoulder 6I and these parts are so proportioned that there is slight clearance when they are assembled lightly together. When the races 63 and 63 and the spacer 13 are clamped against the shoulder 6I, the clearance is taken up and the bearing is thus pre-loaded.

For securing the mounting in position a ring 1I is pressed into the support 63 against the race 63, thus taking up the clearance and preloading the bearing. A portion 12 of the ring 1I is in line with the groove 62 and this portion is then rolled into the groove, thus retaining the bearing in position. l

When the element 63 is an internal gear it u may have meshing with it a pinion 'it on a shaft 14 for any purpose desired.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and .'i

the clamping ring is made adjustable so that after it is rolled into the groove it may be adjusted to further tighten the bearing elements.

5 In these figures the shaft i3, the gear element 28 with a thread 48a. in a plain part of the hearing` portion` t6 of the shaft. The shaft i3 is shown asof the same diameter on both sides of the threads 48a so that of course it would be impossible to thread a threaded ring on to the threaded portion ofthe shaft. To cut down the splined portion t of thel shaft It would weaken the shaft or to make the bearing portion 46 larger would mean that the'bearings and the gear element 2d would have to be made larger and this would mean having to enlarge all of the other gears in the gear casing.

So in this invention the clamping ring ia'is made large enough to rit loosely over the splined portion 40 and on to the bearing portion 46 of the shaft against the race element l. A portion 51a of the ring 56a is over the threaded portion of the shaft and there isnalso a tongue 51h extending from the portion 51a. With the ring 56a in this position and being held against turning by the tongue 51h, as by pressing the tongue into one of the grooves of the splined portion 40, the portion 51a of the ring is cold pressed into the grooves of the threads 48d so that the ring is thereby threaded on the shaft. Then by bending the tongue 51o out of the locking groove the ring 56a may be turned by the Spanner teeth 51e to tighten the ring againstthe race element 5|, thereby clamping the bearing parts in place. When so tightened the ring 56a may be retained in position by pressing the tongue Bib into one of. the locking grooves.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireV to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.,In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a gear for rotation upon 4said shaft, two inner ball races on the shaft, opposed outer races on the gear, the pairs of races arranged parallel to each other, a full row of balls between the races of each pair, a spacer between a race of one pair and a corresponding race of the other pair, and means for clamping the spacer and the spaced races to pre-load both rows of balls in their races, said means including an initially coaxially sliding ring mounted upon and secured to the shaft, the extent of pre-load being determined by the size of the spacer.

2. A gear mountingv comprising ashaft having a shoulder, a gear adapted to be rotatably mounted on the Ashaft and having spaced ball races formed directly in its inner face, race members on the shaft opposing the races on the gear, one

of said members abutting against said shoulder, a spacer between said race members to determine the amount of pre-loading of the mounting, a row of balls between each pair of races, and means for clamping the race members and the spacer on said shaft with the balls in pre-loaded condition, said means slidably mounted upon and secured to the shaft.

yrounding the threaded said ring extending into a shoulder,

relative to said support, of two ball races one of 3. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of gears and shafts including a driven shaft and a gear element rotatably mounted thereon, said driven shaft being formed with a shoulder,

with a bearing portion adjacent the shoulder,

and with a splined portion spaced from the shoulder and of the same diameter as the bearing portion, a double row ball bearing mounting for said gear element on the bearing portion of said driven shaft and securing means for said mounting connected directly to the shaft adj acent the mounting.

i. A gear mounting comprising a shaft having a shoulder and having an annular groove spaced from the shoulder, a gear element between the shoulder and the groove, a double rowof ball bearings between the shaft and said gear element, and a ring holding said bearings with pressure against said shoulder and having a portion extending into said groove to retain the mounting on the shaft.

5. In a gear mounting, the combination "of a shaft having a4 shoulder and having a splined portion spaced from the shoulder with a bearing portion between the shoulder and the splined portion, the bearing portion being no larger in diameter than that of the splined portion, said shaft being threaded adjacent the splined portion, a gear element, bearings for the gear element between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the shaft, and a ring on the shaft surportion and having a. part thereof pressed into the threads of said shaft so that the bearings are adjustable thereon, said ring abutting against and retaining said bearings againstjsaid shoulder, and a locking device for said ring. x

6. In a gear mounting, the combination of a shaft having a shoulder and having a splined portion spaced from the shoulder with a bearing portion between the shoulder and the splined portion, the bearing portion diameter than that of the vsplined portion, said being no larger in shaft being threaded adjacent the splined porthereof pressed into the threads of said shaft so that the bearings are adjustable thereon, said ring abutting against and retaining said bearings against said shoulder, and a-locking tongue on space betweenthe splines of said splined portion.

"7. I'he combination with an annular support having a shoulderrand having a non-threaded portion with an annular groove spaced from the shoulder, and an element adapted for rotation relative to said support, of two ball races one of which rests against said shoulder and the other ofy which is definitely positioned relative to the rst race, a row of balls between each race and said element, and Ipositive clamping means abutting against one of said races and extending into said groove to retain the races and balls in position under compression.

8. The combination with an annular support having a. shoulder and having anon-threaded portion with an annular and an element adapted for rotation which rests against said shoulder and the other -1 of which is definitely positioned relative to the rst race, a row of balls between each race and said element, and aring abutting against the secgroove spaced from the i .70

ond said race and having a flange extending intosaid groove thereby positively clamping the rac and balls in position under compression.

9. The combination with an annular supporting member having a shoulder and having an annular groove parallel with and spaced from said shoulder, and a rotary element adapted for mounting relative thereto, of a ball race mounted against said shoulder, a second ball' race, a row of balls between each race/and said element, spacing means including parts of the races themselves for so spacing the races relative to the balls and said element loaded when the races are clamped together, and a ring abutting against said second race clamping the races together and against said shoulder and said ring extending into said groove to retain the parts in position.

10. In a gear mounting, the combination of a shaft having a shoulder, a gear element mounted for rotation on the shaft and `said shoulder against endwise movement on the shaft in one direction, and a ring having a pressed llt on said shaft for retaining the gear element against endwise movement in the other direction, said ring being immovably secured directly to the shaft adjacent the gear element.

l 1l. A gear mounting comprising a shaft hav- `ing a shoulder and having an annular groove that the balls will be somewhat prebeing retained by spaced from the shoulder, a gear element mounted for rotation on the shaft between the shoulder and the groove, and a ring in close f'. ictional contact with a non-threaded part of said'shaft adjacent said annular groove, said ring holding said gear element against endwise movement on the shaft and said ring itself being held against endwise movement on the shaft by having a portion extending into said annular groove.

12. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a shaft comprising two portions of different diameters forming a shoulder, a gear rotatably mounted on the smaller diameter portion of the shaft and bearing against said shoulder, and a solid ring for retaining the gear under pressure against the shoulder, said ring being peened into the smaller diameter portion of the shaft to thereby retain the pressure mounting.

13. A gear mounting comprising a shaft having a shoulder and having a non-threaded part with an annular groove spaced from the shoulder, a gear element mounted for rotation on the shaft between the shoulder and groove, and a ring holding said gear element against endwise movement on the shaft and having a portion extending into said groove, gear element with pressure against the shoulder.

WALTER R. GRISWOLD.

said ring positively clamping vthe 

